Back in February, the Opera House hosted the show Elvis Lives and was giving away a prize package. They were giving away tickets to the show, as well as tickets to Graceland and a 2 night stay at the Heartbreak Hotel in Memphis, so I decided to enter myself and Joey. A few weeks later Joey got the call that he won! I was so excited! Joey always has good luck at stuff like that.

I absolutely love Elvis...I don't even know why! I think I'm more fascinated everything. Autobiographies are my favorite and after I read Priscilla's I was obsessed.

Here we are at the show in February...I was I believe 26 weeks pregnant!

Did you know that before Elvis died, the next show he had scheduled was in Lexington? There were all of these sweet older ladies who had had tickets to that show and never got to see him. It was sweet seeing how much they enjoyed the show!

We chose this past weekend to cash in on our trip to Graceland. I can't believe I almost didn't let us go because I was worried about traveling so far with Shepherd. He was an angel! It was one of my favorite weekends :)

My family drove and met us so they could watch Shepherd while Joey and I went on the tour. They are wonderful!

This was my THIRD time going to Graceland. I don't even care. I'm so glad Joey got to go with me :)

Here are some pics from our weekend:

Our babysitters during the tour:

My sweet bebe hanging out with the King at the Heartbreak Hotel.

My husband was such a good sport. I was embarrassing him making him wear the big dslr camera around his neck and taking pictures of me in every single room.

My mom was telling me about someone she knows who has the tradition of special meals she prepares on certain days. Days like Halloween, and the first day of school...She will drive all over town to get the exact ingredients and her kids always look forward to it.

So last week on Halloween, I wanted to start this tradition. Even though Shepherd didn't eat it, I wanted to get it started for me and Joey! Plus his little brother came by and ate with us!

We decided on Pumpkin Sloppy Joes...and they were delicious!

Here is the recipe:

Pumpkin Sloppy Joes

Ingredients:

1 lb ground beef

1/2 cup chopped onion

1 clove garlic, minced

8 oz tomato sauce

2 tbsp brown sugar

2 tbsp mustard

1 cup canned pumpkin

2 tsp chili powder

1/2 tsp salt

8 hamburger buns

American cheese

Directions:

In a large skillet or saucepan, brown ground beef. Drain fat. Add garlic and onion; cook until tender. Stir in the pumpkin, tomato sauce, brown sugar, mustard, chili powder and salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.

Cut cheese slices into shapes to make pumpkin faces. Spoon meat mixture onto buns and top with cheese shapes. Serve with bun top off to side!

There are so many, so I don't know if I can even commit to saying this is my favorite...

But, I love how immediate the motherly instinct takes over.

When I was pregnant with Shepherd, I felt connected to him.

As soon as I found out I was pregnant, I went through what I'm sure is typical, and literally did not think of anything else for weeks. I instantly felt connected with this little life I had never met.

But that pregnancy connection was nothing compared to the instant switch I felt as soon as I saw him.

As soon as I saw Shepherd and held him for the first time, I was different. The #1 emotion I felt was "protective." I didn't doubt myself at all, because even though I had never been around babies, what I felt with him was instinctual. You know how whenever you hold someone else's baby you're a little nervous, like you're going to drop him or something? Before I had him I thought it might be like that.

But it wasn't. I just knew I was better equipped than anyone else in the world to take care of him. Because he was mine. God picked me to be his mom, and I felt so great about that.

Some other favorites:

When we are driving in the car so he hasn't seen me for awhile then we stop and I go back to get him and he just smiles and smiles like he is so happy to see me.

Watching him learn new things he can do. Like touching his hand in the mirror. Or putting his foot in his mouth. Pure amazement.

When he wakes up from a nap and I can hear him in his crib just playing by himself.

His name. Shepherd Nash. I mean, really.

Little boy pajamas with feet and animals on the butt. Is there anything cuter in this world?

5 months. I am just obsessed with this little boy!! I literally feel like some days I can see him growing. Here is a look back at his 5th month.

Holding onto his favorite toy while he cat naps.

Playing on his mat:

Daddy just thinks it is so funny when he puts his foot in his mouth!

Still a little small for this thing...we tried to stuff him in for a few minutes and his poor feet wouldn't touch.

Shepherd and I tried out being mall walkers one day since its getting too cold to walk outside. But, I decided it wasn't fair for me to be annoyed with everyone for just browsing when I wanted to exercise so we nixed that idea.

Little boy sitting up in a big chair!

Love this baby!

This month I'll remember as the month he did not sleep!

But, I am happy to report this has gotten a LOT better!! We transitioned him out of our room and into his crib and that made all the difference. He is still waking up a 1-2 times a night but he usually nurses right back to sleep. Knock on wood!!